The Underworld

by Sofie Laguna

The Underworld is for every reader you know; thinkers, laughers, empaths, quirky folk, queer folk, nostalgists, the young and those getting on. Readers seeking a happy ending and anyone ready to feel. Anyone who has ever been fourteen.

Martha Mullins is a misfit. Her mother is glamorous, aloof and judgemental. Her father, mostly absent. Academic and shy, Martha finds herself fascinated by the underworld, a place she learns about in Roman mythology classes at school. To Martha, the underworld and its divine inhabitants provide a place of refuge, escape, imagination and desire.

But Martha also finds joy in friendship. Connection. Intimacy. It’s Martha’s band of friends who show her the value in spontaneity, fun, laughter.

Until things go wrong.

How will Martha find her way in the world where she cannot be herself? Will she ever find a home for the love she feels?

The Underworld is a wondrous novel from an author who wields her considerable powers with assuredness and grace. Funny, brave, insightful and clever, Martha will break your heart – then mend it – many times over.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

Sofie Laguna originally studied to be a lawyer at the University of New South Wales, but after deciding law was not for her, she moved to Melbourne to train as an actor. Sofie worked for a number of years as an actor at the same time as completing a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Sofie is now an author and playright writing for both adults and children.

Her many books for young people have been named Honour Books and Notable Books in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards and have been shortlisted in the Queensland Premier’s Awards. She has been published in the US and the UK and in translation throughout Europe and Asia.

Her picture book, On Our Way to the Beach, was included in the White Raven 2005 annual selection of outstanding international children’s books by the International Youth Library (Associated Project if UNESCO)

In 2008 Sofie released her first novel for adults, One Foot Wrong, to international acclaim. It was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and long-listed for the Miles Franklin Award. Screen rights for the book have been optioned and Sofie has recently completed the screenplay.

Sofie continues to write for a wide readership, from picture books for very young children, to series for older readers, to novels for adults.

Sofie lives in Melbourne with her partner and their young son.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sydney, Australia. Martha Mullins is fourteen, she attends Dalheath boarding school and here she has a small group of friends. Her mother Judith is glamorous and finds her daughter odd and her father works for Ampol and he’s never home and her grandmother Babs is her main supporter.

Martha learns about Roman mythology, the underworld and where the deceased live. To Martha it’s a refuge, an escape from reality, and so are reading and books.

Martha’s time at high school is drawing to an end, she plans to go to university and study Roman history, Latin and elementary Greek. At a party to celebrate the end of school and exams, while letting her hair down and having fun, Martha makes a mistake and misjudges the situation, (or does she) and this changes her relationship with her friends and she's too embarrassed to tell anyone.

I received a copy of The Underworld by Sofie Laguna from NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia in exchange for an honest review. The narrative is set in the 1970’s where society had a very clear expectations of women’s roles, Martha feels different, and unlike her peers she’s doesn’t have a crush on pop stars, want to get married or have children, her plans are to complete university and get a job.

I did understand Martha's struggles with being a teenager, her body changing and having to navigate this with little support from her mother and she’s confused by her parents' marriage and relationship, she feels out of place and unsure about her sexuality.

Three stars from me, I think this type of novel was wasted on me, I didn’t “get” the deep and wondrous message mentioned in the synopsis and I’m sure I missed something major while reading the book and my apologies to Ms Laguna.

[Megan]

It’s a beautiful nuanced and layered story that has something for every reader. It’s a campus novel, it’s about the power of found family, it’s about being yourself despite what the world is serving up, about generational relationships, it’s about being fourteen and about being twenty four.

This novel continues Sofie Laguna’s fascination with the sources that drive who we are - this time for the first time starting in adolescence rather than early childhood. And this time also examining how layers of privilege can intersect with a desire to be independent of expectation.

It’s also I suspect her most deeply personal novel to date.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story set in Sydney with a female lead starting university and fascinating by Roman history. I found it a little light weight and didn’t personally warm to the characters. I am sure it will have an audience. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[nina.reads.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Underworld is Australian author Sofie Laguna’s latest novel which is out in the world today. Laguna is well known for her novels which feature children that experience trauma. After finding her last book too much in this respect I was a little wary but I’m glad to say that The Underworld was more joyful than I was expecting.

Set in the 1970s, this is a book about Martha who at 14 years old is struggling to find her place in life. She feels alienated from her mother and connects more with her father but he is often absent from home. The family is reasonably wealthy and Martha attends an all-girls boarding school. She is very academic and falls in love with Roman mythology and the concept of the Underworld which comes to play a special role in her life. She is also shy but connects with a group of girls. This group of friends are tight knit until Martha makes an embarrassing mistake as they are graduating high school and she is left to embark on university alone and without her friends.

The book was a relatable look at adolescence and early adulthood and the struggle with appearance, sense of self, sexuality and friendships. It was also a bit of a love letter to classical learning and mythology with a frankly surprising amount of Latin, and ancient Greek and Roman concepts discussed throughout the story. I have to say that this element will not be for everyone as it was quite a lot but I did enjoy it even though I can’t pretend to have understood it all.

Martha was a character that I genuinely grew to love and I wanted very much for her to have a happy ending. Laguna gives Martha challenges to overcome but a lot less trauma to process which made this an easier read than some of her earlier books. Having said that the storyline at times verged a little on the dramatic over the authentic. But I also flew through it eagerly following Martha’s journey. This is a coming-of-age story with some twists and I enjoyed it.

Thank you @netgalley and @penguinbooksaus for my #gifted copy.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Laguna's Eye of the Sheep and The Choke were both rare 5-star reads for me. She writes from a child's point of view beautifully and here our host is teenaged Martha who's obsessed with Roman mythology, including the 'underworld' where Ancient Romans believed we go after death.

The novel spans only a few years and ultimately this is a coming-of-age story and Martha owning 'who' she is with developing a sense of self.

Martha struggles socially but found her 'place' with a group of friends at boarding school. Her relationship with her parents is difficult. Her father (when he's around) seems great, but her mother is distant and we don't really learn why. Her grandmother is eccentric though loving and probably knows Martha better than either of her parents. As a result Martha finds most solace in being at school with her friends and books.

As she nears high school graduation something happens that alienates Martha from her friends and her life starts to fall apart. She goes to university but struggles to fit in.

Although this was VERY heavy with the Greek and Latin / Roman mythology references (most of which I skimmed) I enjoyed this read along with Martha's 'journey' (sorry!). Laguna's writing is again stunning and easily inhaled.

I perhaps would have liked a little more commentary about the time in which this book is set (the 1970s) and the way gay and lesbian relationships were perceived or accepted at the time.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

A moving coming of age story following 14 year old Martha Mullins as she discovers who she is and how she relates in the world to her friends and family. Laguna has such a beautiful flow to her writing that keeps you wanting more. Character driven, at times the characters are unlikable but the author manages to create empathy through nuance. Overall, an enjoyable read.

[Christine Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF
Got halfway , sorry Sofie. I loved some of your others but this one didn't grab me. Best wishes to Martha

[mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Underworld is a story about family, friendship and love set in a unique Sydney context, while discussing Ancient Roman history. The novel follows Martha as she navigates life from age 14 to university - who never quite 'fits in' between her uninterested mother and absent father. The 'academic' and 'shy' character of Martha was a little plain, however it was interesting to see the representation of more 'average' people in literature.
While the description remarks that the book can be for 'readers seeking a happy ending', I wouldn't say this is exactly true. While the final ending can be argued as a happy one, many not-so-happy events occur to Martha throughout the book and especially near the end. I propose this book is for 'readers seeking a sort-of-happy ending', for mixed feelings yet a sense of closure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Random House Australia for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

1970s Sydney and Martha is a nerdy teenager who doesn't fit in with her family. But at boarding school she finds her tribe - a close group of similarly nerdy girls. The story has themes of hidden desire, fitting in and falling out, and of course, the Underworld.
Having loved Laguna's previous novels I was super excited to receive this ARC from netgalley. It didn't quite meet my (admittedly high) expectations. I enjoyed reading it, but it was a little slow, particularly in the first half. It wasn't really clear what the point was. I did enjoy the writing style and Martha is an excellent character. 3.5 stars.

[Kate Downey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cross between Mallory Towers and a Latin primer…
I was unsure of this one from Laguna, I have, until now, admired how she writes to the very edge of what we can emotionally accommodate on very sensitive matters. I am prepared to cringe and by golly I did a lot of that. Set in genteel Sydney suburbs where Martha’s mother and grandmother have expectation, money, connections, a certain cultivation and lots of schoolgirl - finishing school - French, Martha is our main concern. Bookish, academic like her father, himself a disappointment in terms of his pedigree and who works hard to make up that lack (it’s never quite the same is it, dahling?), Martha is unable to connect to her mother and has few opportunities to spend time with her father. Grandma Babs is her mainstay. She puts things into perspective, preserving Martha from her parents’ seeming indifference.
The novel is littered with a vocabulary of an English Public School à la Blyton. Martha’s chums save her life most especially Val of the endless brothers and enviably wonderful parents on a distant property. Martha’s crush on her friend is extremely cringeworthy and fairly true to both the age and the era, I suspect. We explore her maturing into feelings of love for women and a deep self-loathing after a misguided—or at least mistimed—pass at her friend. What follows is chaos and a whole lot of Latin.
I do believe Laguna is asking us to experience the nerdiness of her character with her fascination with the Classics. We are peppered with schoolgirl Latin which progress to some of the more esoteric writings of the Sapphic poets and a lot of heavy-duty Ovid, Livy among others. That all texts were not translated made the reading irritating. The in jokes were irritating, Many were puerile and sat somewhat ill with the more sophisticated academic research into the provenance of certain Latin texts. That we were being asked to draw the parallels between the place of women in Roman society historically and their ability to write such admirable and yes, spicy, texts and the fate of a young academic who is similarly reminded of her place in both the academic world and society as a whole where men decide your value and your actions was a little unsubtle.
Yes, academia as the consolation prize is a worn trope and yes, the single woman academic who happens to be a lesbian is similarly trope-ish. Why not revisit these? And in Laguna’s hands there should have something new to say, some new way to look at this idea of power and brain. But the last quarter of the book completely failed to deliver on my hopes for an intelligent take. Where were we going with all this?
How unsatisfactory to allow an ending that deprives us of understanding how it could possibly have come about so simply, an ending that serves to undermine any attempt to have characters of any real depth and any real feelings. Deeply disappointed in the banal, 2D attempt Martha makes to resolve things in a rather dramatic fashion and the ensuing parental response. It smacked of soap opera.
So, unhappily, the “gaudete !” became a “cavete!” (I cannot resist - and okay, slang translation would read ‘Yippee!’ Becomes ‘buyer beware!’) and we are left with a cross between the Famous Five and said offensive Latin grammar alongside some hideously mangled French to prove erudition in what is a woeful mess of hormonally-charged bad luck.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sophie Laguna’s The Underworld we accompany Martha, a 14-year-old teenager living in Australia in the early 1970s as she moves from high school to university. Her life consists of a love of classical history, her school friends and family. Martha is at that difficult age, where everything around you is changing and you are not sure if you are the reason or a passenger. What compounds Martha’s situation is that does not fit into the accepted pathway for young women in the 1970s. Swooning over teenage heart throbs and planning who, how and when you will get married are not Martha’s vibe, she wants something more and there is no book that explains how to achieve that.

Martha, as the main character, is wonderful, she is flawed, a teenager not capable of grasping the obvious signals, completely wrapped in her world and is anxious about how she is perceived. Martha’s safety is books and Roman mythology. The relationships that circle around Martha are beautifully nuanced. The family dynamics is wonderfully explored but allows you to form your own opinions. Janet, Martha’s mother, is aloof and seeming not to care. As the story unfolds the reasons for the strain slowly emerge, with a couple of really touching moments. However, that lack of dialogue between mother and daughter means Martha finds herself directionless when it comes to physical changes and affairs of the heart. Martha turns to textbooks, as you can imagine 1970s advice was rather polarising. Her father Andrew is mostly absent due to work, he is driven to be the best provider, believing material success is providing for the family. One of the biggest influences is Babs, her grandmother. Babs is old school and gives Martha both good and bad advice, she is a product of her time where marriage is about position and security has little to do with love.

Martha’s schoolfriends are her real security and represent a true family. They provide unconditional support and help Martha navigate the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. Her strongest bond is with Valerie, is truly central to the story, there is a tenderness as these two young women, from vastly different backgrounds find commonality, and a special kinship.

It has been a while since I have delved into my classical history, but in Martha’s story smatterings of Persephone, especially towards the end are there. Especially when Martha descends into the deepest of despair but is saved by her female relatives and friends. I might be drawing a long bow, but it resonated.

Laguna really captures the early 1970s, with the constraints of being a woman in Australia and how the emergence of women’s rights is taking shape. Subtly placed in the novel are questions around identity, belonging, connections and what is considered ‘normal’ for a woman to aspire to. The joy is in Martha’s story as you go through the journey as a silent friend and experience the heart-warming and traumatic moments, as she explores connections and identity.

It would be easy to push this into a simple coming of age story, but it is so much more than that. Laguna is a master of layering in complexity to the characters, their connections, interactions and beliefs. It is a glorious read to lose yourself in.

Thanks to Penguin Random House Australia and NetGalley.

[Marles Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first foray into the literary world of Sofie Laguna. The Underworld was a haunting portrait of Martha Mullins’ adolescence and a descent into understanding herself. This is the modern-day journey into the katabasis, aligned with Martha’s discovery of the classical literary world. The underworld, for Martha, was not only a mythological realm but a metaphorical landscape that mirrored her confusion, desire, and transformation into a woman in 1970s Australia. This underworld made Martha face the ghosts of her upbringing, her repressed desires and all the boundaries she was enclosed within at school and within her family.

Martha’s mother was refined and elegant and continually silenced Martha. She laid judgement upon any imperfection she saw in the world and in Martha, crushing her spirit every time. Martha’s father was away for work all too often, and their connection was dislocated at best. Her grandmother was an interesting woman – potentially a saving grace for Martha, depending on the advice she gave her. Caught between them all, Martha found refuge found in the ancient and classical myths and stories of descent into a world that seemed to have more room for her own true self.

Laguna’s references to classical and ancient literature warmed my heart. There was a careful balance on its intellectualism, its dark humour and cleverness of phrases and imagery. Martha was well versed in the in jokes and innuendos, however their translation to the world in which she lived wasn’t always successful. Beneath this scholarly focus was something raw and evocative in the underworld; it was where Martha’s unconscious mind was being tested, where her fascination with myths and ancient stories became a projection of her thoughts and emotions. Her intelligence and her sexuality fought to find their voices in a very oppressive 1970s Australian society, where very quietly feminism pushed against the traditional ideas of the woman as the happy little homemaker, which was Martha’s mother and grandmother to a tee.

Martha’s Underworld is more than a coming-of-age tale; it is a mythic struggle toward selfhood. Through Martha’s descent and tentative return, Laguna reminds us that every passage into darkness — every confrontation with our hidden selves — is also a quest for light, for wholeness, for the power to define one’s own identity.

Thank you to #penguinbooksaus for the wonderful book box and the #gifted copy of the book.

[Rebecca Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 - almost five!

My criteria for a '5' is a text to a friend with a quote. It's a hard line, I know, but my benchmark!

Martha is growing up in Sydney and the Southern Highlands. It is the 1970s and sexuality is still a misunderstood concept. Anything short of married with children is considered deviant. And Martha is pretty sure the cookie cutter life isn't for her.

Her life at boarding school is happy - she has a wonderful group of friends; but they don't know everything about her. At an end-of-school party, she is shamed in the worst way and leaves for university confused and alone.

Can studying the classics - her first love - bring her happiness and completion? Or will she always be living with a piece missing?

A wonderful coming of age novel - and a reminder of just how close we are to a terrible past that sought to alienate and shame.

You'll be team Martha all the way.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young adult fiction tale, Sofie Laguna’s latest novel, The Underworld (2025) is a gentile coming of age story. Martha Mullins is a studious fourteen-year-old who feels somewhat of a misfit, when compared to her glamorous mother and shy academic father. Martha’s grandmother, Babs is a constant support as Martha excels academically at school and then onto university in Sydney. With numerous 1970s mentions and detailed classic studies references, the narrative is a literary ode to a young girl finding her way in life. This pleasant and touching story of one young woman’s life makes for a three and a half star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Penguin Random House Australia and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

[Angelynn23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different kind of story , I have to admit I did find it hard to read so what I have to do is ignore the other elements in this story and just concentrate on Martha and her feelings. I find the story relatable as I think every young adult struggles with like appearance, social acceptance and sexuality. Which in the end I did enjoy the story.

With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Penguin Random House Australia for the arc.

[Robin Bower · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Sofia Laguna’s adult fiction. She writes with such authenticity and her stories are sublime. I wasn’t such a huge fan of this book. It was a much quieter book than others I’ve read, and meandered for a long time on the early life of Martha. While I liked her as a character, I found the mythology interwoven in the story somewhat distracting. However, there is no doubt that the author is a master of her craft.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Laguna is a wonderful writer, but I a bit conflicted about the book. I really enjoyed that the Martha was a classics student, and thought the classical allusions were used well in the book. An interesting focus on a girl who does not apparently fit in with 1970’s conventions. The last few chapters sped by, and a lot of things happened that I am still thinking about. I think I need to reflect upon this novel a bit more.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age story. Through Marthas interactions you can see that she is beautiful, smart, kind and funny. Unfortunately for Martha, her family, sexuality and it being the 70s in wealthy, conservative NSW she does not know this about herself and it is hard to watch her navigate this.

I loved the story and I love Sofie Laguna. One star off because it may have delved a bit too heavily into Marthas academic work (for me).

[Jennifer Hooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all Sofie Laguna's adult books and, with the exception of Infinite Splendours which I really didn't like, consider her to be a 5 star author. This book did not disappoint with the storyline and writing, but I did find the constant Latin translations tiresome after a while so deducted a star for that. Would still recommend though!

[Gavan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good coming of age story. Nice development of Martha as she navigated her sexuality, friends, family, society and the school. I liked the angle of her obsession with Greek & Roman mythology - but parts felt more like a university lecture than a novel. I'm sure on a closer reading there would have been carry-over to Martha's life, but I found the enormous number classical references tiring & difficult to follow.

[Maria Magdalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5* for me. I really enjoyed reading the first half of the book, where Martha is in the last years of high school, obsesses with the Underworld and enjoys being with her school friends circle. But as soon as she becomes a Uni student, you've lost me. Too academic for me - too drab, like Martha's clothes and her behavior. Then the shock and disgust at 80% in, but luckily a somewhat happy ending.

[Robyn Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so loved this story, and Martha. It says on the back cover that it’s a book for anyone who has ever been fourteen. I felt through the reading that I experienced every exquisite high and agonizing low of Martha’s messy, complex, bewildering, scholarly struggle through adolescence. Such big heart. Such raw open wounds and slow, healing balms. Bravo, Sofie Laguna 🙏

[Bronwyn Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved all of Sofie Laguna’s book- both those for children and her adult fiction. I found this book often switched between an engaging page turner and a narrative that really dragged at times. It didn’t live up to my expectations. While the ending was lovely it did feel a bit rushed and predictable.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Underworld follows misfit Martha as she navigates the world. Will she ever find her place in the world?

Thanks to Penguin Random House for a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant

[Ann Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Sofie being interviewed before I read the book - and there was plenty not mentioned so that I was surprised by its content.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ upgraded

[Sue Gould · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - not as engaging as others by this writer - I found the pace too slow. Martha was beautifully depicted.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this coming of age story although not as impactful as some of Sophie's other novels.

[Grace Hyslop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cliched story & the writing lacked nuance